There was a chill in the New York City air, but the hearts of classic film fans were toasty warm when Robert Osborne introduced an open-air screening of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET outside Macy’s Herald Square tonight.

The beloved TCM host – the only white-haired man more popular than Santa himself – was joined by Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and a full house of fans seated in comfy couches before a giant LED screen. And yes, Virginia, the 1947 film was presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio, and nobody seemed confused by the black bars on the left and right of the screen.

Over the course of the day, TCM screened the Christmas classic seven times, with thousands of New Yorkers taking a break from their work day to enjoy an iconic movie and a free cookie, courtesy of Macy’s. (TCM Tour guide Sarah Lilley told me that she handed out 3,000 cookies to fans in five hours. Who knows how many pre-Holiday diets she single-handedly ruined.)

This was the second year TCM and Macy’s partnered for these screenings, and it looks like it won’t be the last.

“This has become our annual tradition,” Kule said to Osborne before tonight’s screening. “And I’m so pleased that you’re here.”

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About willmckinley

I'm a New York City-based writer, video producer, print journalist, radio/podcast host, and social media influencer. I've been a guest on Turner Classic Movies (interviewed by Robert Osborne), NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, and the official TCM podcast. My byline has appeared in Slate.com and more than 100 times in the pages of NYC alt weeklies like The Villager and Gay City News. I'm also a social media copywriter for Sony's getTV and a contributor to four film-and-TV-related books: "Monster Serial," "Bride of Monster Serial," "Taste the Blood of Monster Serial," and "Remembering Jonathan Frid."

Herald Square was only two blocks from where I worked, and I went there and took a glimpse after I left work. It was a nice idea to show “Miracle at 34th St” at 34th St, but it was too damn cold for anyone to stay out for long to watch the movie.

Meta

I'm a New York City-based writer, video producer, print journalist, radio/podcast host, and social media influencer. I've been a guest on Turner Classic Movies (interviewed by Robert Osborne), NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, and the official TCM podcast. My byline has appeared in Slate.com and more than 100 times in the pages of NYC alt weeklies like The Villager and Gay City News. I'm also a social media copywriter for Sony's getTV and a contributor to four film-and-TV-related books: "Monster Serial," "Bride of Monster Serial," "Taste the Blood of Monster Serial," and "Remembering Jonathan Frid."